Collins got her weekend on the Sunday morning shows and the praise of the media. A week from now her defection will be forgotten as she is a minor player. It will have zero impact on the election since we are still two months away from when people start casting ballots.
The October surprise this year may be a massive and public betrayal of Trump about October 15. Imagine George W. Bush, George H.W. Bush, Ryan, McConnell, McCain, several GOP governors, and a number of prominent GOP Congressmen and Senators endorsing Hillary on the same day and the media frenzy which would follow through the early voting period to election day.
If that sort of Republican created “October Surprise” happens and Trump loses, then I really hope he starts his own center-right, populist pro-American party intended to rival the Republicans, as well as represent blue-collar Dems and Indies. Even though he’ll probably never run again, this could turn out to be a remarkable legacy for him, if he can get others on board.
Starting his own cable news network would be another great idea, especially if he could get some prominent people not currently in government to host some of the shows. Newt, Huckabee, maybe even Carson would draw good ratings (and of course Trump himself if he’s willing). Fox would end up regretting being the mouthpiece of the GOPe, if Trump takes away a lot of their viewers.